The Dilly

Little is really known of Mabel Louise Smith aka Big Maybelle, as with so many pioneers of R&B she was never interviewed in her lifetime and passed away in 1972 just as historians of popular culture were finally getting around to the architects of R&B. Here Jasmine have tried a new approach to her recorded work beginning with two rare live radio broadcasts for Alan Freed along with her original LPs for the Savoy and Cub labels presented together for the first time. Also included is her only Christmas 45 along with all of her legendary performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. There is no doubt that Big Maybelle was a big influence over the upcoming soul generation and Aretha Franklin recorded incredible versions of "Ramblin' Blue" and "Pitiful" and the originals by Big Maybelle are included on the superb set.